Stories from Friday, February 8, 2013

To the Editor: I was very disappointed to hear our new Republican State Senator Pete Miller repeating very liberal talking points in his refusal to defend Indiana's marriage laws. Unlike what the senator said, the Marriage Protection Amendment does not take away anyone's right. It simply reaffirms our existing logical definition of marriage...

To the Editor: We want to thank you for the thoughtful article which appeared in the Banner Graphic on Tuesday, Jan. 22 along with the obituary of Marvin Long. Our family appreciated your kind thoughts. Thank you also to the many friends who sent beautiful flowers. They helped to brighten our day!...

The Roachdale Men's VFW Auxiliary will sponsor a St. Valentine's Day dinner and dance on Saturday, Feb. 16. Happy hour will be at the VFW from 5-6 p.m., followed by the dinner and dance at the Roachdale Fire Department. Dinner will be served from 6-7:30 p.m. followed by a dance from 8-11 p.m...

County Jail At 3 p.m. on Wednesday Kent Jermaine Jackson, 37, Greencastle, was booked into the Putnam County Jail for domestic battery. City Police Two recent traffic accidents were investigated by Greencastle City Police officers. -- At 12:07 p.m. Tuesday, a two-vehicle accident was witnessed and reported by Capt. Mike Hanlon at Washington and Vine streets...

A $2 million commitment from an alumni couple will fund new career preparation programming in the DePauw University's Center for Student Engagement. The gift from 1982 DPU graduates Kenneth W. and Carrie Melind Coquillette will create both an endowment and a discretionary fund, President Brian W. Casey has announced...

Select customers of Reelsville Water Authority will soon have the chance to assist the agency in its bid to qualify for federal grant money. The Reelsville Water Authority is attempting to qualify for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and is currently seeking grant funding for a Water Improvements Project...

The Colts mascot, Blue, recently visited Fillmore Elementary School to talk to students about living a healthy lifestyle. Among his main points were playing for 60 minutes, being respectful, making intelligent decisions, diet and education.

The Greencastle Middle School wrestling team lost its first meet on Wednesday, getting topped by Owen Valley 58-49. GMS had several winners at the meet, including Andrew Fait, Ethan Tuggle, Trace Thomas, Kobe Davis, Derek Ummell, Braydon Ummell, Austin Cox, Trey Wood and Braydon Lady...

Cloverdale High School will recognize the late Chad Tucker's 2013 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame induction on Friday, Feb. 15. The recognition will be part of the Alumni Night ceremony celebrating the 1983 Semi-State team. The Clovers are hosting Eminence for a JV/varsity double-header. The evening will also be senior night for winter athletes and band/choir members...

The Putnam County Youth Soccer Association has opened registration for the 2013 Spring recreation league. There is a $60 fee and the league is open to boys and girls ages 3-14. Kids can be registered online at www.pcysa.com. Registration forms have also been distributed at appropriate county schools...

The Fillmore Youth League is holding registration for baseball and softball on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 9-11 a.m. at Fillmore Elementary School. Sign-up will take place in the main lobby. The Fillmore Youth League is for ages 4-18 and will begin play in June...

Cloverdale's boys' basketball team looked to make it three wins in a row Thursday night when it traveled to Southmont. The Mounties, ranked in the Class 3A at different points of the year, showed that they deserved those votes after beating the Clovers 68-50...

ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam Cougars boys' basketball team welcomed the Eminence Eels to their home court Thursday night, getting a hard-fought win in overtime 59-53. The Cougars have now won five straight, the last three without their starting point guard, junior Shane Beaman, who as put on the bench after dislocating his collar bone against South Putnam on Feb. 1...

BRAZIL -- The South Putnam Eagles got defensive on Thursday evening, holding Class 4A Northview to just 32-percent shooting from the field and were able to hit just enough free throws down the stretch to squeeze out a 53-49 victory. The win is South Putnam's fourth in the last five games and moves the Eagles over the .500 mark for the year at 9-8 overall...

ROACHDALE -- With their focus on postseason success that awaits the team at next week's sectionals, the Putnam County boys' swimming and diving teams met at North Putnam to settle rivalries and build confidence. Greencastle picked up a win, scoring 243 team points and champions in seven of 12 events...

Team score -- final 1, Greencastle, 243. 2, South Putnam, 200. 3, North Putnam, 153. Event Results Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay: 1, GHS'A' (Gardner, Nathan , Secrest, Taylor , Firebaugh, Nash L , Asbell, Alex ), 1:50.88. 2, NPHS 'A' (Creamean, Jonah , Troyer, Trevor , Gray, Dane , Kaufman, Nick ), 1:51.00. ...

Several containers of hidden marijuana and a suitcase full of cash have three Cincinnati-area residents in the Putnam County Jail facing felony charges. Interstate Criminal Enforcement officers from the Putnam County Sheriff's Department arrested the trio Thursday following an early-morning traffic stop on Interstate 70. The investigation revealed the drugs and a suitcase filled with an as-yet unknown, but significant, amount of U.S. currency...

The second of three former North Putnam High School staff members charged with child seduction involving the same 16-year-old male student was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison in the scandal that rocked the school and community little more than a year ago...

CARLISLE -- A Reelsville man convicted in the 2010 murder of his wife died on Jan. 13 at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. Jeremy R. Bledsoe, 34, had been serving a 64-year sentence with the Indiana Department of Correction for the Jan. 13, 2010 slaying of 31-year-old Kathryne Bledsoe...

Mary Elizabeth Reed, 93, of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 in Arizona. Mrs. Reed was born on June 28, 1919 in Greencastle to Herman Hendrich and Freda Heil Hendrich. She was a 1937 graduate of Bainbridge High School and was a graduate of Indiana Business College...

B. Gayle Gowens, 70, of Greencastle, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 at Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, surrounded by her family. Born on Jan. 26, 1943 in Nashville. Tenn., she was the daughter of the late William and Edna Walpool. Gayle and her husband Alvin shared 48 happy years together...